Celebrate The Holidays in Mooresville

The holidays are here, and we know how to celebrate in Mooresville! From a holiday light spectacular surrounded by exotic animals to a lighted flotilla of decorated boats, you’ll be sure to find a wonderful way to spend the holidays in Mooresville!

Experience this spectacular display of lights as you drive through Zootastic Park. Last year the park had more than 3.7 million lights, and they add more every year! In addition to the light show, enjoy a S’mores pit, pony rides, petting zoo, Tiger and Giraffe feeding, pictures with Santa and the zoo’s baby animals, and more. Admission is $7.00 and proceeds raised go toward helping care for the zoo animals throughout the year.

Downtown’s Holiday Light SpectacularThrough December 31

The Holiday Light Spectacular is an orchestrated light show with 115,000+ lights set to music. The show takes place on the lawn at Town Hall, 413 N. Main Street, every evening beginning at 5:30. It’s the perfect start (or end) to a night in downtown Mooresville. Walk to dinner before or after the show!

Visit the unique small businesses in downtown Mooresville who will be offering open house activities, light appetizers, store specials & more! In addition, there will be a life size snow globe, a strolling barbershop quartet, carolers & more. Bring your favorite people and enjoy kicking off the holiday season in the heART of Mooresville, along Main & Broad Streets.

Imagine a parade of boats decked to the hilt with unimaginable lighting displays! Get your blankets, gather your families and find a perfect spot along the lakeside route to enjoy this spectacular holiday display! The motto is…”If It Floats, Light It”! Come on out and see what surprises this year will bring!

LET DOWNTOWN DAZZLE YOU THIS HOLIDAY SEASON! Experience Santa Visits, Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides, Unique Shopping, Hot Cocoa, Popcorn, Cotton Candy, a Life Size Snow Globe & more! Wagons load & unload at the Mooresville Christian Mission (266 N. Broad St.), a donation of non-perishable food items or cash is suggested. Santa can be found in JF Moore Park at the corner of Main St & Center Ave. New this year is a life size Snow Globe that will be on Moore Ave. near Main Street. Popcorn, cotton candy & many other treats can be found along Main & Broad Streets.

Enjoy refreshments, visits from Santa himself, door prizes, live music from local artist, a letters to Santa writing station and so much more! The perfect spot to pick up some unique gifts from more than 450 local vendors.

Continuing the Light Up the Lake parade schedule, this parade starts at Blythe Landing (Cornelius) at 5:30pm, goes north to Ramsey Creek around 6pm and arrives at the final stop, the Duke Energy Explorium around 7pm. Food truck, Music and Santa will be there until 30 minute after the parade ends. Many viewing areas along the route! No admission fee but we do ask that you bring an unwrapped toy for Little Smiles!

Irish dance and Christmas come together for the first time to turn an age-old tradition into an exciting Irish dance Christmas spectacular the entire family will enjoy! Featuring 20 of the world’s most skilled Irish dancers and musicians, Carol of the King brings an original inspiring Christmas story of love and salvation to life that transports the audience to a mystical time and place of heroes and redemption. The world- renowned Irish dance troupe performs lighting fast hard shoe rhythms and graceful soft shoe jigs to an original epic orchestral soundtrack featuring many Holiday favorites, while state of the art lighting and Christmas spirit ignite the stage into an explosive display of dance and music. The show takes place in downtown Mooresville at the Our Town Stage.

Welcome Spring with these Fun Events and Activities!

Spring is here and the warmer weather and longer days are the perfect time to take in some great events and activities around Mooresville.

April 13 – Uncorked & Artsy

This fun evening event features wine and beer tastings at 15 downtown Mooresville businesses. The tastings event is $25 for advance tickets and $30 at the door. In addition, there will be musical acts inside and outside, as well as artists displaying and selling their works. The music and arts portion is a free event. To purchase tasting tickets online visit www.downtownmooresville.com/buy-tickets.html or you can purchase at downtown businesses.

April 14 – Food Truck Festival One of the more popular events that runs spring through fall, the #FoodTruck Festival is a great way to sample good food and drinks from area trucks. Bring a chair and stay for the evening as you enjoy gourmet fare and live music. The event takes place once a month from April through October on Main Street, #Mooresville. Details at www.downtownmooresville.com/signature-events.html

April 16 – Pick Your Own at Carrigan Farms If you want to experience picking fresh produce from the garden without the work of tending your own garden plot, head over to Carrigan Farms where you can pick your own fruit and vegetables. Asparagus kicks off the season, with strawberries following in late April or May (depending on the weather conditions). It’s great family fun and a learning experience for kids on how and where food is grown.

April 28 – Lakefront Hops Fest at LangTree

This free event will feature beer, wine and hard cider tents, two live bands, food venders, a kids zone, raffles and prizes and more. A great way to enjoy beers from area breweries all in one place! Details at www.facebook.com/events/152875578719140/.

April 29 – Dale Earnhardt Day The annual birthday celebration to honor the late Dale Earnhardt takes place at Dale Earnhardt, Inc.

May 3 – LangTree LIVE!

This popular, 22-week concert series runs every Thursday from May to September, 7-9PM. Each week features a different musical act ranging from 80’s pop, alternative rock to the classic sounds of Billy Joel and The Eagles tributes. D9 Brewery will be on site each week at LangTree Live serving up the latest in craft beer selections. Be sure to get there early and visit LangTree shops and restaurants, and bring your chair to relax on the lawn and enjoy the show. As always, admission is FREE!

May 12 – Race City Festival

The Race City Festival is a celebration of Lake Norman area arts & culture and is held outdoors along Main and Broad Streets in Downtown Mooresville. The Festival features family fun areas, hundreds of vendors, food, antiques, arts & crafts, kids areas, dancing, live entertainment, and more! About 200 vendors, two stages with live entertainment, two food courts, beer garden, kids games, face painting, street performers, mascots. free parking & free admission. Downtown merchants, eateries, art galleries and businesses will also be open.

May 21 – Race City Week

Race City Week in Mooresville celebrates everything racing! Events at race shops feature driver meet and greets, shop tours, and more. Race fans in town for the #CocaCola600 and #600Festival should plan a day in Mooresville, Race City USA! Check our event calendar for updated events during Race City Week.

May 22 – Little 600

One of the most popular events during the #600Festival, the #Little600 gives fans a chance to watch drivers battle it out on the GoPro® Motorplex kart track for bragging rights. Past champions include Bubba Wallace and Cory Lajoie. Fans also have a chance for autographs and photos with the drivers. Click for more details.

Enjoy swimming at the family friendly swimming area, or rent a water toy and get out on the lake! Hourly rentals are available for canoes, kayaks, paddleboats and standup paddleboards. Availability and hours are seasonal, please check the Lake Norman State Park webpage for details.

Winter Activities to Keep You Warm in Mooresville

In Mooresville, NC, we are known for our mild climate, which makes outdoor activities a year-round possibility. But sometimes the arctic chill makes its way down here for a few days. But don’t fear! There are plenty of activities you can do indoors to have fun and stay warm.

Go Climbing!

Cliff Hangers Climbing and Fitness Gym is a fun challenge for the whole family. This state-of-the-art indoor climbing facility features a speed wall, bouldering, and a designated kids area. All you need is comfortable clothes and determination, and their friendly staff will get you started climbing! The cafe offers snacks to keep you going, as well as a great beer selection to reward you for all of your hard work. Cliff Hangers is located at 326 Oates Road, Mooresville, NC 28117 or visit them at www.cliffhangersclimbing.com.

Go Karting!

When it’s a bit chilly to brave the outdoor kart track at GoPro Motorplex, there is also an indoor option for navigating the track. The Pit Indoor Kart Racing’s 70,000 Sq. Ft. track is one of the largest, single indoor kart tracks in the country. With speeds of up to 45 miles per hour, and a 20-foot wide track, that means more passing, more speed, and more of that adrenaline rush. The completely indoor facility also features a climbing wall, arcade, laser tag, bumper cars and more. It’s the perfect spot for entertaining adults and kids for the better part of the day. The Pit Indoor Kart is located at 346 E. Plaza Drive, Mooresville NC 28117. You can visit them online at meetatthepit.com.

Go Down Memory Lane!

If you are feeling a bit nostalgic, try a visit to Memory Lane Motorsports and Historical Automotive Museum. Featuring over 150 vehicles on display, this unique museum is a fabulous collection of automobiles, pedal cars, antique toys, motorcycles, tractors, antique clothing, memorabilia, trophies, and so much more! Memory Lane traces the history of the automobile from 1901 to present day and the history of racing from the early moonshine era to the super speedways of today. You can view cars driven by NASCAR greats such as Bobby Allison, Richard Petty, Terry Labonte, Dale Earnhardt, and many more. Memory Lane Museum is located at 769 River Hwy, Mooresville, NC 28117 and online at www.memorylaneautomuseum.com.

Go Brewing!

After a day of climbing, karting, or museuming, treat yourself to an afternoon or evening of beer sampling! Mooresville is home to some great craft beer breweries, pubs, and ale houses, where you are sure to find a new favorite. Ghostface Brewing features up to 20 unique and tasty beers along with mead and ciders at any given time in their taproom. The brewery also features events such as yoga and beer and the popular “Research and Drinking” event where guests can sample new beers in testing and vote on which ones will go into production. Ghostface Brewery is located at 427 East Statesville Ave, Mooresville NC 28115 and online at www.ghostfacebrewing.com.

New to downtown Mooresville, (On)Tap taphouse features 23 taps of craft beers and ciders from small, independent breweries and cideries primarily in North Carolina. In addition, they have prosecco and wine on tap, can serve you craft beer flights and fill a growler for you to take home. The renovated historic building is quite beautiful and the perfect location for enjoying a brew or two. (on)Tap is located at 188 N Main St, Mooresville, NC 28115 and online at www.ontap.pub.

Ultimate Ales was the first bottle shop in Mooresville and offers a revolving selection of beers and ciders on tap, as well as an extensive bottle collection. The shop also features a Trivia Night. Ultimate Ales is located at 134-C Mooresville Commons Way , Mooresville, NC 28117 and online at www.ultimateales.com.

Enjoy your days exploring Mooresville, and remember you can always stop by our Visitors Center if you need help planning fun things to do while you visit Mooresville!

Celebrating The Holidays in Mooresville

The holidays are fast approaching, and we are getting ready for them in Mooresville! From carriage rides through charming downtown to a holiday light spectacular surrounded by exotic animals, you’ll be sure to find a wonderful way to spend the holidays in Mooresville!

The kickoff to the holiday events begins with this family festival. Enjoy hot chocolate, face painting, a photo booth and holiday choo-choo trains. There will be special guest appearances from the man himself, Santa! And of course the main event will be the lighting of the giant Christmas Tree. A super fun event for the whole family to get you into the holiday spirit.

The Annual Mooresville Christmas Parade has been a tradition since 1944. Generations of locals and visitors alike have enjoyed the numerous floats, dance and entertainment groups, marching bands, and merchants displaying their holiday spirit. The roughly 1.5 mile parade down Main Street ends with the traditional appearance by Santa Claus. The event is free and is always held the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

Experience this spectacular display of lights as you drive through Zootastic Park. Last year the park had more than 3.7 million lights, and they add more every year! In addition to the light show, enjoy a S’mores pit, pony rides, petting zoo, Tiger and Giraffe feeding, pictures with Santa and the zoo’s baby animals, and more. Admission is $7.00 and proceeds raised go toward helping care for the zoo animals throughout the year.

Downtown’s Holiday Light SpectacularNovember 27 – December 31

The Holiday Light Spectacular is an orchestrated light show with 115,000+ lights set to music. The show takes place on the lawn at Town Hall, 413 N. Main Street, every evening beginning at 5:30. It’s the perfect start (or end) to a night in downtown Mooresville. Walk to dinner before or after the show!

It’s a Boat Parade on Lake Norman! Start the season out right and come to the waterfront at Lake Norman Yacht Club and watch the spectacle of lights! Sail and motor boats from the area will be decked out in their finest holiday decor for your viewing pleasure. The parade is a benefit for Toys for Tots, please bring an unwrapped toy to support this great cause.

Enchanting downtown Mooresville comes alive for the holidays! Enjoy strolling carolers, Santa visits, Christmas Tree Lane, horse drawn wagon rides, hot cocoa, snacks and treats, and more. Activities take place on Broad & Main Streets. Pop in to one of our wonderful restaurants, coffee shops, beer pubs or wine houses as you take in the sights and sounds of the season!

Celebrate Fall in Mooresville

Fall is such a beautiful time in Mooresville. The warm, but not hot, days are perfect for getting outside and enjoying our beautiful weather. And of course the fall festivals are in full swing! Here are a few festivals to get you in the autumn spirit.

The animals at the Lazy 5 Ranch enjoy the cool weather, too, so it’s the perfect time to interact with them! The Fall Festival runs the month of October, where you can take your chance at the pumpkin slingshot, or pick out your own pumpkin from the pumpkin patch. There are lots of activities for the kids, including a giant corn box, a straw castle, as well as marshmallow roasting and painting activities. And of course be sure to take a horse-drawn wagon ride through the park and feed the animals. Some of the activities are only offered on weekends so check their website for details.

What better way to get in the fall mood than to pick your own pumpkin straight from the patch? At Carrigan Farms they grow thousands of pumpkins every year. They also transport you to the pumpkin patch on a tractor drawn hayride. The whole experience is great fun for the entire family. You can also shop the farm market while you’re there for fresh apples and cider, colorful mums, local honey and more!

The 44th annual Carolina BalloonFest is a must for ushering in fall! Where else can you watch more than 50 colorful balloons fill the sky? The festival features live music on two stages, a wine and craft beer garden, a kids zone, loads of food and drink vendors and more. You can take a tethered balloon ride or just watch as the balloons ascend into the blue Carolina sky. More details and tickets at www.carolinaballoonfest.com

Just a short ride south of Mooresville is the annual festival that celebrates life in medieval times. With games and rides, falconry exhibitions, jousting, giant turkey legs and more, it’s a highly anticipated event in the area. Open every weekend through November 19. Visit their website for tickets and details.

photo: Carolina Renaissance Festival

Zootastic Fall Festival

If you want to get up close and personal with more animals, then head over to the Zootastic Fall Festival on October 28. In addition to seeing tigers, lemurs, and other exotic animals, you also get the chance to interact with some of them. They will have face painting, pumpkin decorating, and visits from Super Heroes. A fun day for the entire family!

Check in with your artistic side at the Uncorked and Artsy festival in downtown Mooresville. This signature art walk and wine tasting is adding craft beers to the mix this month, as well as artist displays and live music. Tickets for the October 13 event are available online or you can purchase at the gate. A wonderful way to spend a crisp fall evening while supporting the Mooresville Arts Renovation Fund.

Don’t miss the last Food Truck festival of the year in downtown Mooresville on October 14. This event has been a great success and draws big crowds into downtown. At least 10 trucks will be serving up everything from barbeque to soul food and everything in between, as well as beer from Mooresville’s own Ghostface Brewery. Tables and chairs are provided but go quickly, so you may want to bring your own chairs.

If you attend any of these events, make sure to include us by using the hashtag #VisitMooresville in your social media posts. Your photos may even be selected to appear on our website! Have fun and prepare to fall in love with Mooresville!

What to do when you visit Mooresville for a day (or two, or three)

We all know how precious vacation time is. How you spend those special days away from home can leave you feeling energized and recharged, or completely relaxed, depending on your goal. Whether you spend the day or a long weekend when you visit Mooresville, there are plenty of great activities, attractions, and restaurants to keep you entertained as you choose your own speed.

Who doesn’t want to get up close and personal with exotic and domestic animals? That’s exactly what you can do at the Lazy 5 Ranch. This drive thru safari park gives visitors the chance to feed and touch animals from nine different continents from the safety of their own cars. Or make your visit even more special with a horse drawn wagon ride through the park. It’s a great experience for the whole family!

Once you’ve washed the animal slobber off of you, head over to the more than seven acre shopping complex that features home furnishings and accessories, as well as an antique center. Even if you aren’t in the market for furniture, the gorgeous building that was once Burlington Industries is a site to see. While you are there enjoy lunch at one of the 2 restaurants, Alino Pizzeria or Barcelona Burger and Beer Garden. These 2 casual eateries are a favorite with locals and visitors!